Popular Parking Area '95 Percent' Usable

by ANN Correspondent Franklin Porath

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 07.27.08 1600 EDT: It's not that bad. That's the word from EAA's Dick Knapinski, who told ANN that steady breezes and seasonably pleasant temperatures have aided in drying out the rain-soaked grounds in the "North Forty" plane parking area at Wittman Field.

Knapinski says the area is "95 percent" usable, with remaining soggy patches drying out nicely. The situation should continue to improve, too, with the forecast calling for a pleasant week ahead with only a slight chance of rain predicted Tuesday.

Original Report

Fourteen inches of rain in June plus the usual July Wisconsin thunderstorms have literally swamped the North Forty aircraft parking areas at the Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure 2008 convention at Wittman Field in Oshkosh.  As recently as last Sunday, parts of the popular General Aviation aircraft camping and parking areas were ankle-deep in water, according to Steve Owen, Assistant Chairman of Parking Operations.

Normally, arriving pilots only see the Flight Line and Parking Operations flag-people for a few minutes just after they land and are marshalled to their tie-down spots, and then the crew moves on as more aircraft arrive. This year the situation is far more critical.

Where there is usually enough area to site over 2,500 airplanes, as of two weeks ago, only one-quarter to one-third of the North Forty camping and parking spaces flanking runway 9-27 were usable, said Sandy Strebel, 21 year volunteer and Co-Chairman of Flight Line Operations. The choice areas (to some) near the red shower building, are still saturated, and impassable.

Carol Garceau, Flight Line Operations chairman, said the small respite on Friday -- when four hours of predicted rainstorms did not materialize -- allowed more spaces to become usable, and if the fair weather continues, perhaps 75% of the North Forty may be available by Wednesday. The situation is handled on a day-today basis, sometimes hourly, as they continuously scout the grounds to make sure that people can get in and out, without being stranded in muck and mud. This still means that many pilots will need to divert to the surrounding airfields such as Appleton, Fond–du-Lac, and Green Bay.

The handicapped area, by the Camping Registration is clear, though. As a reminder, for those pilots who wish to use the handicapped area, don’t leave your automobile handicapped parking pass back in the car. Bring it with you for identification.

So for those pilots who may feel disappointed at not being able to park in their usual Oshkosh spots, please consider, that if you are fortunate enough to be able to park in the North Forty, that you are on the high ground.

FMI: www.airventure.org